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Law & Lawyers

Energy People: Chair Audrey Zibelman

We talked with Audrey Zibelman, Chair of the New York Public Service Commission

Chair Zibelman has been responsible for designing and leading the regulatory market changes of the electric industry under Gov. Cuomo’s Reforming the Energy Vision, a comprehensive plan to modernize and transform New York’s electric industry. Previously she served as COO of PJM.
Byline: 

Chair Audrey Zibelman, with PUF’s Pat McMurray

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Challenging Common Excuses for Ignoring Grid Analytics

Heart of Digital Transformation Strategy

The three barriers to grid analytics – fear, uncertainty and doubt – can be overcome. Indeed, if utilities want to remain competitive, they should be. Where companies have moved ahead with successful implementations, the benefits are manifest.
Byline: 

Craig Cavanaugh

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Energy People: Clint Vince

We talked with Clint Vince, chair of the Dentons LLP Energy sector

Clint Vince has directed the expansion of the U.S. energy team to more than 1,000 professionals in 58 countries. His experience involves major project development, legislative and regulatory advocacy, and litigation and appellate cases, including U.S. Supreme Court advocacy.
Byline: 

Clint Vince, with Pat McMurray

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December Birthdays

Edward Hammer, Bertha Lamme Feicht, William Merrill, Marcel Deprez

Hammer came up with the idea of making the fluorescent into a spiral in the shape of, well, a bulb.
Byline: 

Steve Mitnick

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Seven Conditions Justify Smart Grid Investments

Utilities and Partners Can Benefit

Seven essential conditions justify smart grid investment: If customers engage, if DER defers capital assets, if DER is grid integrated, if DER lowers overall costs, if desired reliability is assured, if greater innovation results, and if greater utility profits result.
Byline: 

Eric Woychik

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Imagine Better Things

Leveraging Technology to Create Value

Technology enables. Examples from others abound. The real drivers of transformational change are these entrepreneurial thinkers and doers who strike a chord with consumers. It's up to you to imagine better things.
Byline: 

Roger Woodworth

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The IoT and EE

What Does It Spell?

As the Internet of Things enters our homes, utilities have an opportunity to aggregate the devices into a system that consumers can easily manage. Consumers will find they are becoming more energy efficient, even if that was not the initial motivation.
Byline: 

John Hargrove and Eric Stern

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In Only the Second Period of Low Real Rates and Bills

How Should We Manage and Regulate Now?

Electric bills this March were just a tick off the pace of the all-time low. In this unique period, how should we regulate utilities? Should we correct course? Should we allow greater growth of non-fuel costs to – let’s say – buy some more reliability?
Byline: 

Steve Mitnick

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New Jersey Eyes Microgrids to Augment Reliability

Excerpt from the December 9, 2016 issue of PUR's Utility Regulatory News

The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities determined that microgrids, whether based on CHP, fuel cell, solar, or some other technology, offer the promise of increased system resiliency. Especially with CHP-based microgrids, energy efficiency is advanced as well.
Byline: 

Phillip Cross and Diane Boiler, Public Utilities Reports, Inc.

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Energy People: Ben Fowke

We talked with Ben Fowke, who leads Xcel Energy

Ben Fowke and Steve Mitnick discuss Xcel’s rapidly growing wind resources. They made up 17 percent of the energy provided to Xcel’s customers in 2015, generating more power than nuclear and nearly as much as natural gas. By 2020, Xcel projects that 24 percent of its energy will come from wind.
Byline: 

Ben Fowke, with Steve Mitnick

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